United Way of Northeast Georgia closing in on goal

Tuesday

Jan 29, 2013 at 10:04 PM

April Burkhart

The United Way of Northeast Georgia set a new donation record in its recent fundraising campaign and is closing in on its $2.3 million goal.

To celebrate that accomplishment, and continue encouraging donations, the United Way board of directors welcomed hundreds of area givers, volunteers and nonprofit workers to its annual meeting and awards banquet Tuesday.

During the banquet at the Athens Country Club, the United Way voted in new board members, delivered its annual report and honored volunteers who helped during the 2012 campaign.

"I am very grateful and proud for the opportunity to serve with all of you and to help the United Way of Northeast Georgia serve our communities," said United Way fundraising campaign Chairman Scot Morrissey, publisher of the Athens Banner-Herald and OnlineAthens.com. "I have the privilege tonight of honoring the folks who made the dollars come in the door. These are folks who worked tirelessly, on top of having real jobs, to make our campaign happen."

Sarah McKinney of the Athens Area Council on Aging won the Loaned Executive of the Year award.

"Not only did she diligently work with her assigned accounts, but she helped other loaned executives and spoke to numerous employee groups during the campaign," Morrissey said. "Her positive attitude was infectious. Her assigned accounts recorded a 66.5 percent increase over the previous year."

Volunteer of the Year awards for Jackson and Stephens counties went to Rock Feeman and Susan Nichols, respectively. Also winning Volunteer of the Year was Joe Nemetz of Athens First Bank and Trust.

The awards portion of the evening ended with Mary Jane Ledford, the finance associate for the United Way, accepting BB&T's Shining Light award with tears in her eyes and to a standing ovation. Ledford was recognized for her dedication to the United Way despite having a hard year after the loss of her husband.

The United Way helps 26 human services agencies in northeast Georgia using donations from throughout the year. Capital campaign organizers annually set fundraising goals based on the needs of those agencies.

Last year, United Way set its goal at $2.3 million and nearly reached it.

But it's not too late to collect the needed money.

Morrissey said fundraisers "are still working on several opportunities to help us get to the overall goal."

To make a donation, visit www.unitedwaynega.org and click the "donate" tab at the top of the page.